Boston public radio station WBUR announced it has signed an agreement with Aritaur Communications to acquire WMVY-FM commercial radio station in Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard.

The sale of WMVY's 92.7 FM signal means that WBUR will extend its broadcast area to Martha's Vineyard and most of Cape Cod and Nantucket, as well as the Massachusetts 'SouthCoast' including New Bedford, Fall River, Falmouth, Westport and Marion, according to a press release this morning.

WMVY, known on air and online as mvyradio, plans to create a nonprofit, commercial-free business model.

“We believe that the islands, Cape Cod and SouthCoast are important parts of the community we cover and serve," said WBUR General Manager Charlie Kravetz. "WBUR has long wanted to meet demand from listeners in this region who have been unable to hear our signature programs and outstanding local news reporting.”

The changeover is expected for early next year, pending FCC approval. At that time, WBUR will broadcast its signal on 92.7 FM, a 3,000-watt station reaching more than 60,000 prospective new listeners. This will be in addition to WBUR's current 50,000-watt signal on 90.9 FM which broadcasts across all of metropolitan Boston and eastern Massachusetts.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Aritaur Communications, which has owned WMVY since 1998, will transfer WMVY's programming and all other assets to the nonprofit Friends of mvyradio, according to the press release. The goal is to continue broadcasting mvyradio's music programming through its online live streaming at www.mvyradio.com, "and look for a more affordable solution to return to the FM airwaves."

The homepage of WMVY's website was replaced this morning with news of the sale and a plea to pledge to the non-profit Friends of mvyradio. The goal is to raise $600,000 in pledges by the end of January.

"Only the FM signal has been sold to WBUR. Aritaur is contributing mvyradio's programming, online content, equipment and staff to the non-profit Friends of mvyradio," the posting stated. "So, the core is there."

"That means mvyradio, as you know it -- all the music, personalities, shows and web content -- can live on as a non-commercial, internet public radio station."